Board Appoints Dr. Richard Perniciaro Interim President

The Atlantic Cape Community College Board of Trustees named Dr. Richard Perniciaro of Pleasantville the interim president at its Dec. 20 meeting at the Mays Landing Campus. Perniciaro, executive vice president of Planning, Research & Facilities, and dean of the Worthington Atlantic City Campus, will serve as interim president from Jan. 1-29, following the retirement of Dr. Peter L. Mora. Subsequently, Dr. Barbara Gaba will begin her tenure as president Jan. 30.

Board Approves Annual Financial Report

The board approved its annual financial report for the year ended June 30, 2016, and accepted the FY’16 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report, following a report from Henry Ludwigsen, partner of Bowman & Company LLP of Voorhees, the college’s audit firm.

Ludwigsen reviewed highlights of the report, noting his firm had issued “an unmodified or ‘clean’ opinion for the financial statements,” and there were no audit findings or recommendations.

Board Treasurer Jim Kennedy noted it was the “cleanest audit I have seen.” On behalf of the board, Dave Coskey, board chairman, thanked Leslie Jamison, dean of finance, and members of her staff for the “clean” audit.

–Payment to ServPro, Haddon Heights, for emergency work done to remediate water damage to the Walter Edge Theater, $24,020.

In Grants Action, the Board:

–Approved submitting a budget modification and accepting a subgrant of $19,950 from the New Jersey Space Grant Program of Rutgers University, over the term of Sept. 1, 2016-June 1, 2017.

–Agreed to enter into a memorandum of understanding with the New Jersey Council of County Colleges and the Office of the Secretary of Higher Education for the implementation of the College Readiness Now III Project, with a grant award of $31,475, from September 2016-July 30, 2017. The grant will allow the college to offer eight sections of its Math Boot Camp to students in grades 11 or 12 who are not likely to be college ready at the end of high school. The program will provide a diagnostic assessment identifying the students’ weaknesses and a transition program to address those learning outcomes necessary for the students to achieve college-ready skills.

In Other Business, the Board:

–Approved the Nov. 30, 2016, financial statement.

–Approved a revised tuition and fee schedule for FY’17 removing the lab kit fee for Earth Science effective with the spring 2017 semester.

–Approved changing the name of the Health Services degree to Health Science to be consistent with other New Jersey community colleges. The college will begin offering the Heath Science, Associate in Science effective fall 2017.

–Approved dropping the Bilingual Office Assistant Specialist Professional Series program and the Computer Security program due to limited enrollment or overlapping coursework with other professional series options, effective fall 2017.

–Recognized Maria Ivette Torres of Mays Landing for her service as chairperson to the board from 2014-2016. Torres has served on the board since 2003.

Maria Ivette Torres, center, is recognized by Dr. Peter L. Mora and Dave Coskey for her contributions to the Board of Trustees.

From left, Dr. Peter L. Mora, Dave Coskey and David Evans congratulation Lynda Phommathep, center, on being named Atlantic Cape 2017 Employee of the Year.

–Approved a resolution recognizing Lynda Phommathep, office assistant, career education, on being named 2017 Employee of the Year for her outstanding service to the college.

Board Thanks Dr. Mora for His Service

Board member David Evans read a resolution acknowledging Dr. Mora’s accomplishments during his 41-year career at Atlantic Cape and thanking him for his service. “Dr. Mora, it seems you lived for this job. Your enthusiasm, leadership and thought were always evident,” Evans said.

Dr. Peter L. Mora is recognized at his final meeting of the Atlantic Cape Board of Trustees Dec. 20.

Dr. Mora shared his appreciation of the board’s support. “I’ve been very fortunate to have inspired leadership on the part of the board and to be able to work toward a shared vision,” Dr. Mora said, noting he had never missed a board meeting during his 11 years as college president.

In the President’s Report:

–Dr. Mora introduced Dr. Mitchell Levy, vice president of Student Affairs and dean, Cape May County Campus, to provide an overview of a new program, SCOPE, Senior Citizen Opportunities Promoting Education, a collaborative effort to enhance educational opportunities for seniors from Cape May County. SCOPE is a partnership between the college and the Cape May County Department of Aging and Disability Services and Cape May Regional Medical Center. The first activity was a performance by the Atlantic Cape Choir this month at the Ocean City Senior Center. “This was a positive start and the beginning to a lot more programs with seniors in Cape May County,” Dr. Levy said.

—Jean McAlister, dean, Resource Development & President/Board of Trustees Operations, and Andre Richburg, dean of Enrollment Management and College Relations, provided an update on the college’s 50th anniversary activities. The college has monthly events organized throughout the year in recognition of this milestone. Details are available at atlantic.edu/50.

The next meeting of the Board of Trustees will be held at 7 p.m., Tuesday, Jan. 24, at the Cape May County Campus, Room 113. All are welcome to attend.